Somehow, someway, as an 11-point sportsbook favorite, the Boston Celtics blew a 28-point second-quarter lead to drop to 45-19 on the season after an unfathomable 115-105 loss to the Nets on March 3. Forget the standings-related consequences for a second. Boston gave up 38 points to Mikal Bridges, who looked more like a superstar against the Cs than Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have since knocking the Celtics out of the 2021 postseason.
With Durant in Phoenix and Irving in Dallas — likely temporarily before relocating to Los Angeles to team up with LeBron James in the summer — these Nets shouldn’t be knocking off a team with ambitions of the league’s best record. Especially on Jayson Tatum’s birthday.
One NBA fan had the perfect tweet to sum up such a horrific showing:
Celtics about to lose to a team that just traded KD and Kyrie after holding a big lead on Tatum’s bday??? 🗑️🗑️🗑️
— z (@ZakMarcinNBA) March 4, 2023
The Boston Celtics cannot fall apart before the finish line
Per ESPN Stats & Info, this was the largest Nets comeback since such stats were tracked 1996-97 and the second-largest blown lead for the Boston Celtics during that time span. While freaky things happen from time to time, this loss was concerning considering the recent 94-point outing in a loss to the Knicks at MSG.
With Joe Mazzulla locked into a long-term extension, there is a legitimate concern that some of the urgency from earlier in the season is lost. Of course, for a Finals team, it’s tough not to shift into cruise control at this point in the regular season. Still, seeing a team drop one to a struggling Nets team as the Bucks pull away in the Eastern Conference is disconcerting.
With how great the team was doing, a late-season collapse would merely amplify the pressure on this team. Media pundits are waiting to pounce on Jaylen Brown trade rumors, and more losses like this that could lead to a lack of momentum heading into the playoffs would only amplify those voices.